NPL fail to secure additional sponsor

The Namibia Premier League (NPL) has failed to secure an additional sponsor to fund the N$ nine Million deficit from the budget submitted to the Namibia Telecommunications Limited (MTC) for the 2016/17 football season.

The NPL was given a hosts of conditions to be realized before 22 August, however, the League in their attempt to secure the much needed N$ nine million has fallen on deaf ears.

Speaking at the joint press conference held at the NFA Soccer House today, NPL Chairman, Johnny John Doeseb said they have engaged the line Ministry through the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Secretary-General, Barry Rukoro’s office.

Doeseb said they have engaged various stakeholders apart from the Government, and that they briefed different players from the football sector.

The chairman said Government through the Ministry of Sport, has acknowledge the situation confronting the League but has instead advised that that will only be considered during the 2016/217 financial year.

NPL failed to secure the additional sponsor/s and that has forced the football official sponsor MTC to withdraw its provisional N$ 15 million.

Following the withdrawal of the N$ 15 million, NPL is now forced to source for a sponsor who will fork out the whole N$ 24 million for the League to start as scheduled.

Without mincing his words, Doeseb said the league will not kick off as scheduled until the NPL gets the full N$ 24 million needed to run the League.

MTC Human Capital Officer, Tim Ekandjo said: “NPL has not been able to secure an additional sponsor or rather the N$ nine million, and therefore MTC has now officially withdrawn its conditional commitment of N$ 15 million per annum and N$ 43 million over three years. This move now formally means that MTC will officially not renew its partnership with the NPL.”

“Our intention is to reinvest all funds meant for the NPL in other sport codes, we are however, not going to share any details now. No sports code that we sponsor must have expectations that we will become a lifetime sponsor,” stressed Ekandjo.

Doeseb said they NPL would continue engaging the business corporate and all relevant stakeholders. He said the NPL has approached close to eight companies but non have reverted back to them.